Sheng Chumu reported what he knew. “Your Majesty, I have heard that Duke Cheng is close with Faya.”
The Emperor snorted as he picked up another account and threw it in front of Duke Cheng. “Duke Cheng, why do you think I called you over? The Imperial Records wrote that you accepted bribes and sold official positions. I didn’t believe it initially as you have always been honest. However, seeing how generous you are with Faya, there must be a source for your gifts.”
Duke Cheng kneeled in fright as he picked up the accounts. Trembling, he flipped through it before wailing that he had been wronged.
The Crown Prince wanted to stand up for him. “Imperial Father, Duke Cheng simply…”
The Emperor scolded, “You shut up! Duke Cheng made use of my grace to deceive me and accept bribes. He colluded with the monk and is extremely disgraceful! Your mother has fallen ill and as her son, you still want to speak up for him! Has your heart been eaten by dogs? Take down my order, Monk Faya has been disgraceful and cursed his Empress. He has misled the people and shall be beheaded!”
Sun Tan, who had been quiet, suddenly burst out, “Your Majesty! The Crown Prince has been surrounded by night and he has been bewitched. His numerous actions have made me feel bad for him. I do not wish to see the Crown Prince fall any further. Your Majesty, as his father I hope you will exercise your power and get the Crown Prince back on the right track! If not, the future of Great Tang will be in trouble!”
The Crown Prince was stunned as he looked at Sun Tan. He did not understand what Sun Tan meant.
The Emperor’s gaze was icy. “What has the Crown Prince done that made you so upset?”
“The Crown Prince...he…” Sun Tan could not complete his sentence. “Not only was he bewitched by Duke Cheng, he has also been seduced by a lowly actor named Chen Ji. They have done immodest acts!”
The Emperor was shocked and anxious. “What?” He glared at the Crown Prince and shouted his name, “Li Chengqian! Speak!”
The Crown Prince was flustered as he kneeled down. “Imperial Father, this has nothing to do with Chen Ji…”
As the Emperor saw how the Crown Prince immediately defended Chen Ji, he felt like this issue was undeniable. He kicked the Crown Prince. He wanted to kick him once more but Sheng Chumu kneeled down and held onto his leg.
Sun Tan quickly interrupted, “The Crown Prince is still the root of Great Tang. Your Majesty, please reprimand and guide him but not injure him.”
The Crown Prince withstood the pain and kneeled once again. “Imperial Father, I have already cut off all ties with Chen Ji and have nothing to do with him.”
The Emperor could not hit to vent his anger and redirected it. “Cut off? Seducing the Crown Prince and doing immodest acts. How can I let such a lewd man live! Crown Prince, I order you to bring me Chen Ji’s head! If not, you will no longer be the Crown Prince!” He would not pass down the empire, which he worked so hard to obtain, to this kind of son.
The Crown Prince stiffened as desperation flashed through his eyes.
Luoye [1] Alley. Maybe it was because of the name, the leaves fell especially early.
In the small yard, Chen Ji and Lu Yingying were facing each other. Although they did not know each other, they were fated to meet because of the Crown Prince. When Fu Rou heard that the Emperor wanted to kill Chen Ji, she begged Lu Yingying, who was about to leave the palace, to hurry and tell Chen Ji to escape.
“The Emperor wants to kill me?” Chen Ji lowered his head.
“Head Seamstress Fu happened to overhear His Majesty’s tirade and asked me to inform you. Hurry and leave.” Lu Yingying looked at the man in front of her. He had clear eyes. Even though she did not know the full story, she felt like he was not a bad person.
However, Chen Ji sat on the stone chair and shook his head while smiling. “I am not going to run away.”
Lu Yingying was confused. “Why not?” This concerns his life!
“The Emperor ordered the Crown Prince to kill me. If I escape, what is the Crown Prince going to do?”
“The Crown Prince is of royal descent, if he cannot complete the Imperial Decree, he will at most be punished. However, if you stay here, only death awaits you.”
“I was recklessly born into this earth and lived a low life. Dying is no big deal. Thank you for rushing here to inform me. When you see Head Seamstress Fu, please help me to thank her for our friendship.” Chen Ji poured himself a cup of alcohol and raised it as if to say goodbye. “To live or die is not the most important thing. The most important thing is to live according to one’s wishes. You should leave.”
Lu Yingying’s eyes lit up. That’s right, the most important thing is to live according to one’s wishes. She liked Yan Zifang. It did not matter what Yan Zifang thought, she would not change her feelings. She turned to walk out of Chen Ji’s yard and onto the path she chose for herself.
Chen Ji had no idea that his words had changed a person and continued pouring and drinking his alcohol. Soon, his yard would be dyed red. He suddenly threw the cup and started singing. Heroes were always brave, they would rather fear death than be greedy to live.
Chen Ji pulled out the dagger from his waist. Facing the direction of the Eastern Palace, “However Your Highness has treated me, will be how I repay you. I know myself--” He pierced the dagger into his heart. He chuckled, “Death!”
Some time later, the door of the small garden suddenly burst open. The Crown Prince dashed in. He knew what he wanted to do. He was going to send Chen Ji away and then beg his Imperial Father for forgiveness.
“Chen Ji, I will never let you be a discarded piece--” He stopped as he looked at the scene in front of him in horror.
Chen Ji was kneeling upright in the middle of the yard where they had once practiced swordplay. His back was straight as a dagger stuck out from his chest. A small smile was plastered on his face and he was no longer breathing.
The Crown Prince fell onto the ground and tears misted up his eyes before drying up. His eyes were left dull and hopeless.
* * *
1. Luoye means falling leaves in Chinese
Chapter 29.1: Surge
Sun Lingshu’s knees had gone numbed.
She spent the previous night kneeling in front of the Eastern Palace, begging the Crown Prince to forgive her. Even though she was not the one that told her father about Chen Ji, she was the one that said too much to her sister. Her sister heard their parents quarreling over her and stood up for her. Her father had always been an upright person and could not hold back. In the end, they angered the Emperor. The Crown Prince only returned home in the depths of the night and threw a bloody dagger at her. He told her that Chen Ji was dead and congratulated her for getting her wish.
Today, she kneeled in front of Lizheng Palace, begging the Empress for forgiveness. The Empress refused to see her. In the Empress’ eyes, she had chosen the wrong daughter-in-law and her daughter-in-law had dragged her son down with her. She thought that Sun Lingshu was ignorant and petty.
Sun Lingshu was extremely indignant as she knelt but she had no choice. She kneeled to her husband and to her mother-in-law. But none of them cared about her. All of a sudden, she felt someone kneel beside her. She turned her head only to see Consort Han.
They were both daughter-in-laws of the Royal Family and both had difficult lives. The night before, the Emperor ordered that all the actors in Han Mansion were to be beheaded. Because of Chen Ji, everyone had been implicated. Prince Han and Consort Han could not just watch and let them die. Consort Han even came to beg for forgiveness from the Empress early in the morning.
Although Sun Lingshu and Consort Han ignored each other, they felt better knowing that they were both equally unlucky.